Theft-alarm for automobiles



omvnn L. scorer, or m: rmcisco, CALIFORNIA.

THEFT-ALARM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

Application filed December 27, 1917. Serial, No. 209,065.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that. I, OLIVER citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new .and useful Improvements in Theft-Alarms for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a theft alarm for automobiles.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple,,compact, cheaply manufactured theft alarm mechanism for automobiles which may be easily applied to practically any make of car and which is.

capable of producing an audible-alarm the moment a thief or other unauthorized person attempts to get away with the car, whether it be towed or driven under its own power.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for operating the alarm in connection with the clutch pedal of the car or any other member which must necessarily be operated if the car is moved; and also to provide means for continuously sounding the alarm once it has been started.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide means for limiting the movement of the clutch pedal to such an extent that it will be impossible to free or release the clutch and also to provide means for mark- 'ing any unauthorized person that may enter the car and also to provide a sand box, the outlet to which is automatically-opened to leave a trail of sand behind the car if it is moved. Further objects will hereinafter appear. p

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automobile, partly in section, showing the application of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of one part of the mechanism.-

Fig. 3 isa detail view of the sand valve.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged/view of the audible sounder.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view. of the working device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates in general a standard form of automobile,-2 the clutch pedal on the car, and

L. Soon, a

3 the floor. Suitably secured under the car is an air tank 4 which may be charged by a hand pump, a compressor, or any other suitable means, and positioned-directly ahead of said tank is a police whistle, which is op-' erated by the air from the tank, a valve 6 being interposed to regulate the volume of air used and to open and close the supply of air.

a sand box 7. Mounted I in the bottom of said box is a standard form of valve 8 which is adapted to be opened and closed in unison with the valve 6 by means of a lever 9. The

valve 6 is also provided with a lever, as

shown at 10, and both levers are, in this instance connected to a flexible rod or wire 11, which in turn is connected with .a hookshaped latch 12. This latch is inclosed by a casing member 13 secured directly below the foot-board 14 in the car. The casing is also provided with a key-actuated lock 15 which is positionedin. direct alinement with the latch 12. The bolt of the lock is adapted to be turned by means of a key 16 and it has formed on its inner end a cam member 17 which is adapted to be turned into or out of engagement with the latch 12; the latch 12 being under normal conditions held in the raised position shown in Fig. 2 by means of a spring 18. This spring is-depressed the moment the bolt is turned by means of the key 16 to turn the cam 17 into engagement with the latch, and it'will also be seen, by referring to" Fig. 2, that the outer end of the latch when depressed, which is hookshaped as shown at 19, assumes a position in direct alinement with a pin 20 formed on alarm and thereby attract sufficient attention to prevent a get-away.

Thedepressing of the clutch pedal to Mounted directly ahead of the whistle is throw out the clutch would, of course, cause the pin 20 to engage the hook 19 and pull it in a forward direction as it in directly connected with the latch and the valves 6 and 8 would then open and permit the air to enter the police whistle, causing this to sound, and then permit sand to escape from the box 7 and leave a trailby which the car could be traced, if the thief should still the tank 4 has been completely exhausted.

. other member which must necessarily be 'This is accomplished by forming a notch 21 on the inner end of the latch 12. This notch moves into register with the cam 17 when the pedal 2 is depressed and here automatically locks itself, thus preventing the latch and the rod 11 from returning even though the pedal 2 should be released. Sand will, therefore, continue discharging from the valve 8 and air will continue to escape through valve 6 to operate the whistle, thus maintaining a noise which isbound to attract the attention of individuals in the vicinity. A thief or other person trying to remove'the car is in this manner apprehended and often caught. and prevente from stealing the car.

Vhile the tank 4 and the sand box are shown as positioned below the floor line of the car, it is obvious that they may be placed under the seat or at any other convenient point, and that while the latch 12 is shown as operated by the clutch pedal 2 it is also obvious that it may be operated by any moved if the car is towed or driven away by its own power.

The alarm after once being started Will continue operating until the tank 4 has been exhausted and the sand boxwill also continue discharging its contents until emptied.

If the owner should be notified; it is obvious that it is only necessary forhim vto insert the key 16 'and turn the bolt until the cam moves out of register with the notch 21. The latch would then be automatically re leased and return to .normal position, this being accomplished by attaching a spring 25 to one of the levers, as shown in Fig. 4. It is therefore. not necessary to completely exhaust either the tank or the box after the. alarm has been started if the thief is at once apprehended.

The alarm mechanism is thrown into and out of action at all times at the will of the operator. If he is driving the 'car it is natural that the alarm mechanism remains in an inoperative position and that when the operator leaves the car it is thrown into operative position by means of the key. By referring to Fig. 2 it will-be seen that the latch 12 is'provided with a collar 12. This .collar although it permits the clutch to move a certain distance forward serves as device. This consists of a tube 30 (see Fig.

.latch to move forward sufliciently'. far to operate the different valves and the alarms actuated thereby. The stop collar 12 positively locks the pedal against entirely freeing the clutch, thus rendering it diflicult, if not impossible, for any one attempting to drive the car away to change gears or, in fact, get the car under headway.

The car is also equipped with a marking 5), the upper. end of which is adapted to be fills with" flour or other material. flour is placed in the upper end of the tube The and an S trap 31 formed on the tube prevents it from dropping or settling below this level. The main vertical section of the tube is provided with two perforated disks 32 between which is mounted a cork 33. This cork normally seats on the lower disk but is raised by air against the upper disk when the valve 34 is opened. The handle of this valve is, of course, moved in. unison with the handle 10 of the whistle valve and it can therefore be seen that releasing or depressing of the clutch pedal not only starts the police whistle and opens the sand box, but

it also causes a' suflicient amount of air to pass through the tube 30 to blow the flour out and directly against the back of any one who may be seenin the 'car, thus marking any individual that may attempt to get away with the car so that if he tries to escape hemay be. traced by the flour mark deposited on the back ofhis clothing. The

cork 33 interposed between the perforated disks rises against the upper perforated disk the moment the valve 34 is opened.

The volume of air displaced by the cork during its upward movement is suflicient to blow out the flour contained in the upper end of the tube and as the cork seats against the upper perforated disk,-it can readily be seen that it will form a seal at this point to prevent the further escape of air. This is of importance 'as it permits the whistle to operate agreater period oftime than would be possible if the air, should continue to escape through the tube 30.

The mechanism, including the air tank,v the sandbox and the key-actuated latch together with thevalves and means for operating same, may all be inclosedby a pan such as shown at 40, if desired, thus rendering it impossible for any one to tamper with the mechanism or render it inoperative.

Having thus described my'invention, what I claim and desire. to secure by Letters Patent iS-'*- 1. .A theft alarm for automobiles, comprising a pivotally mounted latch having a hook formed on one end, a pin formed on the clutch pedal of the car, a key-actuated member forlraising or lowering the hookply, a whistle connected with said source of air supply adapted to be operated thereby, a valve interposed between the air supply and the whistle, and means connected with the latch for opening the valve and for -maintaining it open when the clutch pedal is depressed.'

2. A theft alarm for automobiles, comprising a pivotally mounted latch having a hook formed on one end, a pin formed on the clutch pedal of the car, a key-actuated member for raising or lowering the hookshaped end of the latch into or out of engagement with the pin, a source of air supply, a whistle connected with said source of air supply adapted to be operated thereby,

a valve interposed between the air, supply and the whistle, means connected with the latch for opening the valve and for maintaming it open when the clutch pedal is depressed, and a key-actuated member for pedal movement for projecting a predetermined uantity of flour and means for continuous y operating the sounder once it has been started.

l. The combination with the clutch pedal on an automobile of a whistle, means for supplying said whistle with air to operate the same, 21 Valve interposed between the source of air and the whistle, means connected with the clutch pedal for opening said valve, means for retaining the valve open after it has been opened, a container for flour, means for passing a portion of the air from the source, of supply through said container to eject it against the back of any one occupying the drivers seat in the automobile.

The combination with the clutch pedal onan automobile of a sounder, means for supplying said sounder with air to operate the same, a valve interposed between the source of air and the sounder, means con nected with the clutch pedal for opening said valve, means for retaining the valve open after it has been opened, and means for luniting the movement of the clutch pedal so that the clutch operated thereby cannot be released.

6. The combination with the clutch pedal on an automobile of a whistle, means for supplying said whistle with air to operate the same, a valve interposed between the source of air and the whistle, means connected with the clutch pedal. for opening said valve, means for retaining the valve open after it has been opened, a container for flour, means for passing a portion of the air from the source of supply through said container to eject it against the back of any one occupying the drivers seat in the automobile, a sand box carried by the car and means connected with the clutch pedal for opening a discharge passage formed in the sand box.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my 'hand in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

OLIVER L. SCOTT.

Witnesses I JOHN H. HERRING,

W. W. HEALEY. 

